Dress dreams come true for military brides

Local store takes part in national organization's giveaway

The Bustle owner Alison Pasiut, rear, helped Jamie Lo of Yuma, Ariz., with a possible wedding gown choice that she will wear for her fiance on their wedding day.
— John Gastaldo / JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune

The Bustle owner Alison Pasiut, rear, helped Jamie Lo of Yuma, Ariz., with a possible wedding gown choice that she will wear for her fiance on their wedding day.
— John Gastaldo / JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune

DEL MAR 
For many brides-to-be, it's all about the dress. The gown embodies the symbolism of a wedding and can cost as much as the cake, the flowers and the hall combined.

But courtesy of The Bustle in Del Mar, 15 military brides-to-be found their perfect dress at no charge.

The gown giveaway was sponsored by Brides Across America, a national nonprofit organization that offers free wedding dresses to women who qualify by showing deployment papers for either themselves or their fiance.

The Bustle is a new boutique bridal store owned by U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Jason Pasiut and his wife, Alison, both in their 30s.

The couple participated in the giveaway Tuesday, along with salons in 13 other states, because they wanted to support a cause that benefits military couples.

This month, Brides Across America shipped 25 gowns to the Del Mar business, primarily overstocks and samples in varying sizes. The Bustle contributed five dresses as well as couture gowns, courtesy of designer Somsi. People also donated new gowns after they heard about the event. “This was our first time doing this, and we didn't know what to expect,” Alison Pasiut said at the end of the day.

“We didn't know if girls would find the right sizes. The hard part is finding the dress they have in their head, getting the fit right and having it come together. We had a lot of happy brides today.”

One of them was Jamie Lo, who modeled a strapless A-line gown. Lo is a kindergarten teacher who was born in Washington and moved to Yuma to be near her fiance, Marine Cpl. Phil Eskew, now serving in Afghanistan.

When a friend told her about the gown giveaway, Lo's mother flew to Yuma and the women drove to San Diego in hopes of finding the right dress.

“I tried on dresses with a friend before,” Lo said. “I love San Diego, so we decided to wait until this event to see if we could find a free dress. I really like this one. I wasn't sure of it, but everything looks different when you try it on.”

Marlene Arciniega's fiance will ship out in a week, but she's ready for his return. She found a simple white sheath gown with a side sash that fit as though it were made for her.

“He'll be on the Nimitz aircraft carrier,” Arciniega said. “I love my dress; it's gorgeous. I expected a lot of people here, so I got here early. The dresses are all pretty, and there are a lot of them.”

The Bustle is the only salon in San Diego that participated in the giveaway. The store is intimate and elegant, with dark wood floors and billowy white curtains that envelop a circular dressing area. It typically stocks about 60 gowns.

In a back room, two white leather chairs are set up for hair and makeup sessions, so a bride can schedule services for herself and bridesmaids without having to travel with her veil.

During the giveaway, future military wives were caught up in the excitement of trying on gowns, in some ways as much of a ritual as the wedding ceremony. Arms were lifted to the ceiling, allowing layers of white silk, satin and tulle to float down as mothers or best friends rushed to zip the bodice and arrange the hem and train.

Some took pictures – the first glimpse of the bride as she would appear on her wedding day.